Folding trunk.



J. F. TURNER.

FOLDING TRUNK.

APPLxc/arxon FILED 1AN.4, 1916.

1,1 98,79 3 Patented Sept. 19, i916.

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1. F. TURNER.

FOLDING TRUNK.

APPucArloN man MNA. 191s.

l ,l 98,793. Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NITED STATES FATENT FFICE.

JOI-IN F. TURNER, OF ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND CHARLES DAUGI-IERTY, OF ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY.

FOLDING TRUNK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rammed sept. ia, 191e.

Application filed. January 4, 1916. Serial No. 70,111.

To all lwhom it lmay concern Be it known that I, JOHN F. TURNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlantic City, in the county of Atlantic and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Folding Trunks, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to trunks or chests adapted to be folded into small compass for transportation or storage, and to be unfolded and distended for service when required, and is especially designed for automobile service in which in the folded condition it may be stowed beneath the seat or in other available space, and when distended it may be secured to and carried upon the rack usually provided for such purpose.

The object of the invention is to provide a receptacle of this character which may be folded compactly and distended easily and quickly, with no disconnected or independent parts, and which when distended will possess the required strength and rigidity.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts by which the above objects are attained, to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show the invention as it has been carried out in practice.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved trunk in the distended condition, with the lid partly raised. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical section of the same partly in elevation. Fig. 3 is a corresponding transverse section, taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 3, and partly in plan view. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the trunk in the knocked-down condition, before folding. view showing the trunk partly folded. Fig.

7 is a similar view showing the fully folded condition. Fig. S is a section taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 5; the dotted lines show successive stages in the folding operation. Fig. 9 is an end view of the folded trunk. Fig. 10 is a corresponding front view. Fig. 11 is a vertical section showing a detail on a larger scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures. A

T helchest or trunk when distended forms a Figf is a similar rectangular receptacle having a length somewhat greater than its width, as shown in Fig. 1, with the upper face or top inclined slightly downwardly from the rear toward the front but which may be parallel with the bottom if preferred.

rlhe top is divided, longitudinally into two parts A, A1, the latter serving as a lid and hinged to the former at al. The top A is hinged at a to the back B to fold downwardly thereon, and the hinges are offset as shown in Fig. 11, to permit the top to fold parallel with the back but with an intervening space between their adjacent surfaces. The bottom is also divided into two parts C and C1 hinged together at c1 to permit the front portion C1 to fold beneath the rear portion C, and the latter is hinged at c to the back B by hinges constructed to permit the bottom to be inclosed within the lower margins of the back, front, and ends and to fold upon the outer face of the back. At the front edge of the front portion C1 0f the bottom are similar hinges Z- joining the bottom to the front D of the trunk and arranged to allow the front to fold beneath the bottom-portion C1.

On the inner face of the back B near one end, at e, is hinged a wing or trunk-end E adapted to fold inwardly upon such innerv face, and on the inner face of the front D near the opposite end, at f, is hinged a corresponding wing or end F adapted to fold inwardly upon the front. At the lower edges the wings or ends E and F rest against the bottom C C1 and are thus held in position at a. right angle to the front and back B, the hinges e and f being so set as to resist further outward swing. and the ends are further supported by contact against vertical strips or cleats G and H on the back and front respectively. l

On one end of the rear bottom-portion C isv a flat stud J extending through a slot f1 in the wing or end F and engaged by a hook F1 on the outer face of the latter received in a hole y' in the protruding end of the stud, and on the opposite end of the same bottom-piece is a similar but shorter stud J1 received in a corresponding recess, not shown, in the wing E. The front bottomportion C1 is similarly equipped with a long stud K extending through the slot e1 in the end E, engaged by a hook E1 in the hole 7c,

and with a short stud K1 received in a recess in such wing. These studs aid in securing the wings or ends to the bottom and also stiffen the latter aga-inst a tendency to fold downwardly along the hinged joint.

0n each end E and F are hooks L and M engaging respectively with the pins A2 and Dl on the top A and front D.

Thus assembled the whole forms a substantial receptacle capable of withstanding the interior and exterior strains to whichl it may be subjected, well adapted to be carried on the usual rack of an automobile and secured thereto by the usual straps. It will be observed that the lid A1 comprises only a portion of the top and may be raised or lowered without affecting the other portion A which by reason of the construction of its hinges a and the engagement of the hooks L is relatively fixed. This ai'rangement permits easy and ample access to the interior while maintaining the stiffness of the structure and without requiring it to be moved relatively to v such rack.

The trunk may be inclosed iii a waterproof cover, and the inclination of the top and lid tends to shed moisture; these parts are equipped with an angle-strip N on their edges to stiften the wood 0r Other material employed and to resist wear, with the downwardly projecting portion overlapping the back, wings, and front and serving as a valance to cover the joint and exclude water. The veitical angles are similarly protected by anglestrips I), and the ends of the bottoni portions and wings may be stiffened by strips R to resist any tendency to curl or warp. Handles S arranged to fold i'iush within their keepers, are provided on the ends, and a lock on the front engages pins T on the lid. Spurs V on the upper edge of the front are received in holes in the plates V1 on the lid and aid the valance in holding these portions against lateral movement relatively to each other.

Figs. 5 and 8 show the parts in the wholly unfolded or flattened condition; with the lid A1 lying upon the top A, and the end or wing E folded upon the back B beneath the top, and the wing F lying upon the front D.

In folding to the desired small compass, the front D with'its attached wing F is folded beneath the front portion C1 of the bot tom, and the latter with these parts is then folded upon the rear portion C of the bottom, see Fig. 6, and the several parts are then again folded beneath the back B as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 8, and in Figs. 9 and 10. It will be noted that all the portions are permanently connected and lie in a series of closely superposed leaves.

In distending or setting up the trunk, assuming the parts to be in the flattened position shown in Fig. 5, the wing F is first turned up to a right angle to the front D,

angle with the portion C1 of the bottom, at the saine time the wing F is forced 0utwardly a little beyond the right angle and the studs J and J1 engaged with the wing, and the stud J secured by the hook F1. The top A and lid A1 are then lifted and the back B turned upward to a right angle with the bottoni portion C, the wing E sprung outwardly to permit the engagement of the studs K and K1 and the hook i l. The hooks L and M are then engaged with their pins and the trunk is ready for service.

lVithin certain limits the relative proportions of the parts may be varied and especially in the direction of the length of the trunk, and any suitable materials may be employed with such accessories or triminings as may be desired. Other means for securing and stifl'eniiig the parts when in the distended condition may be substituted for those shown.

I claim 1. In a receptacle of the character set forth, a top comprising two longitudinal port-ions hinged together, one of said top portions adapted to serve as a lid and to fold upon the other top portion, a bottomk in two longitudinal portions hinged together and adapted to fold with their inner faces adjacent, a back hinged to the rear portionsV said back, said ends adapted to fold in-V wardly upon the inner faces of said back and front, said other top portion adapted to be separably secured to said ends in fixed relation thereto and thereby stiifen the receptacle when the latter is in the distended condition, the whole arranged to fold upon itself in a series of superposed articulated leaves.

2. In a receptacle of the character set forth, a top comprising two longitudinal portions hinged together, one of said top portions adapted to serve as a lid and to fold upon the other top portion, a bottom in two longitudinal portions hinged together and adapted to fold with their inner faces adjacent, a back hinged to the rea-r portions of said top and bottom, a front hinged to the front portion of said bottom, an end hinged to said front, an end hinged to said back, said bottom inclosed by the lower margins of said front, back, and ends, and means for engaging said bottom with said ends, means for separably securing said other top portion to said ends in fixed relation thereto and thereby stiifening the receptacle when the latter is in the distended condition,.the whole arranged to fold upon itself 1n a series of superposed articulated leaves.

3. In a receptacle of the character set forth, a top comprisingtwo longitudinal portions hinged together, one of said portions adapted to serve as a lid and to fold npon the other portion, a bottom in tWo longitudinal portions hinged together and adapted to fold with their inner faces adjacent, a bach hinged to the rear portions of said top and bottom, a front hinged to the front portion of said bottom, an end hinged to said front, an end hinged to said back, said bottom inolosed by the lower margins of said front, back, and ends, spurs on said bottom portions extending through said ends, means on said ends for separably engaging the protruding portions of said spurs, and means for separably engaging said ends with said top and front.

at. In a receptacle of the character set forth, a top comprising tivo longitudinal portions hinged together, one of said portions adapted to serve as a lid and to fold upon the other portion, a bottom in two longitudinal portions hinged together and adapted to fold with their inner faces adjacent, a

back hinged to the rear portions of said top and bottom, a front hinged to the front portion of said bottom, an end hinged to said front, an end hinged to said back, said ends adapted to fold inwardly upon the inner faces of said back and front, said bottom inclosed by the lower margins of said front, back, and ends, spurs on said bottom portions extending through said ends, 'means on said ends for separably engaging the protruding portions of said spurs, means for separably engaging said ends with said top and front, and cleats on the inner faces of said back and front, serving as abutments for the free margins of said ends.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature, in presenoe of tivo Witnesses.

JOHN F. TURNER.

Vitnesses FLOYD L. HAND, CLARENCE CoWAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0; 

